BMW to Equip Megacity EV with Battery Cells from Bosch and Samsung SDI

The BMW Group announced today that it has chosen SB LiMotive, a 50:50 joint venture of Bosch and Samsung SDI, as the supplier of the battery cells for its future project Megacity Vehicle. Scheduled to go on sale in the first half of the next decade, the Megacity Vehicle will be the second model to come out of the BMW Group's "i project" after the all-electric MINI E. In an earlier announcement this year, BMW said that buyers of the Megacity Vehicle will have the choice between a fully electric drive and a high-efficiency combustion engine.

"The decision is a major milestone along the way to serial production of the Megacity Vehicle," said Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

"The battery is a key component in any electric vehicle - it determines the range and performance of the car. With SB LiMotive we have selected a supplier who offers the best available technology, combining leading German automotive expertise with future-oriented Korean battery know-how," Reithofer concluded.

BMW has not released any other specific details or photos on the Megacity project.

Kia Releases Limited Run Sorento "Edition by Irmscher"

Kia's German arm has joined forces with the tuning firm Irmscher for the development of a supposedly special edition version of the soon-to-be replaced with a newer generation model, Sorento. Offered exclusively in black or a silver metallic finish, the Sorento "Edition by Irmscher" gets two-tone leather seats embossed with Irmscher's logo which also appears on the side sills and the tailgate. Other features include a choice of two different alloy wheel designs (18-inch), protective side bars and a roof-mounted DVD player with a large 8.5'' screen.

The special edition version of the Sorento is available in LX and EX models with customers having the choice between manual and automatic transmissions. Kia has yet to announce pricing details on the model.

Mitsubishi UK Adds Two New Models to Outlander Range

The new Outlander 2.0 DI-D SE and GSE are the latest arrivals in Mitsubishi's UK line-up. Both variants are fitted with a 2.0-liter turbo diesel that produces 138 horsepower. The SE is priced from £19,999 and comes equipped with 18-inch alloys, Bluetooth, cruise control, privacy glass, side and curtain airbags, and a third row of seats while the more luxurious GSE adds leather seats and a rear ceiling mounted DVD player, for an additional cost of £1,500.